Stolen Vehicle Documents

[laserblazer]

When we bought my son's new car the dealer told us that last year thieves stole loads of blank documents from DVLA and as a result, all vehicle owners received new documents. I don't recall having done so and google doesn't come up with anything. Is he correct or has he been a second-hand car salesman for too long?

[plexer]

They re-issued V5's because of it.

 

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/news/buying-and-selling/2010-08/new-v5c

 

From Blue to Red

 

Ben

[FN-GM]

He is correct. Heard it from a few people, the 4 cars in our house all got sent replacement documents.

[plexer]

@laserblazer dunno what you googled then

 

Ben

[laserblazer]

@laserblazer dunno what you googled then

Ben

 

Should have looked closer, the hits I got seemed to indicate general warnings. I still don't recall having received a replacement V5 but mine is just a photocopy because the dealer said he'd lost the original.

[AMLinington]

This is correct. All registered vehicles received a new Red coloured V5C and were told to return/destroy the blue one.

 

If you are buying a car, ask to look at the V5C. If the header is Red, it's legit, if it's blue, flag it with the DVLA/Police.

 

Photocopies of the V5C are not legit - you need to request a proper one or contact the DVLA as legally I'm pretty sure they cannot sell a car without a genuine V5C

[laserblazer]

This is correct. All registered vehicles received a new Red coloured V5C and were told to return/destroy the blue one.

 

If you are buying a car, ask to look at the V5C. If the header is Red, it's legit, if it's blue, flag it with the DVLA/Police.

 

Photocopies of the V5C are not legit - you need to request a proper one or contact the DVLA as legally I'm pretty sure they cannot sell a car without a genuine V5C

 

Thanks, I know what I'm looking for now. I was joking about the photocopy

[plexer]

This is correct. All registered vehicles received a new Red coloured V5C and were told to return/destroy the blue one.

 

If you are buying a car, ask to look at the V5C. If the header is Red, it's legit, if it's blue, flag it with the DVLA/Police.

 

Photocopies of the V5C are not legit - you need to request a proper one or contact the DVLA as legally I'm pretty sure they cannot sell a car without a genuine V5C

 

Yes you can sell a car without a V5.

 

Ben

[Chris_in_notts]

Yes you can sell a car without a V5.

 

Ben

 

you would just have to be stupid to buy it lol

[FN-GM]

you would just have to be stupid to buy it lol

 

a V5 isnt proof of ownership. So if you bought a car with a V5 doesn't give you any guarantees.

[plexer]

a V5 isnt proof of ownership. So if you bought a car with a V5 doesn't give you any guarantees.

 

Exactly

 

Ben

[Chris_in_notts]

I realise this but if they have the V5 registered to them at their address isnt it a pretty good indication they own the car?

 

if I went to buy a car and they had no logbook I wouldnt be buying it no matter how many times they told me the v5 isnt proof of ownership lol

[plexer]

Not really an HPI check would be better than just relying on someone presenting you a V5.

 

Ben

[FN-GM]

Not really an HPI check would be better than just relying on someone presenting you a V5.

 

Ben

 

agreed. There are people on TV that have had car taken off them because of log book loans from the previous owner. If you dont get a HPI check your taking a big gamble.

Edited May 20, 2013 by FN-GM

[Chris_in_notts]

what will a HPI do for you?

[plexer]

HPI will give you details about the current owener and will also tell you about any outstanding finance or "log book loans" on the car if it's not clear you could end up with the car being reposed, it's not just initial purchase finance these days people use cars as security.

 

Ben

[Edu-IT]

what will a HPI do for you?

It'll show you whether there's any finance attached to it.

 

It's perfectly acceptable to have a V5 document with your name and address on it, but, that doesn't mean you own the car. It could have finance attached to it and the person buying it wouldn't know this unless they did a HPI check. Could result in the car being taken away from you, even though you've done nothing wrong.

[Chris_in_notts]

You dont get details on the current owner with a HPI so that wont show they are the current owner.

[Chris_in_notts]

I always HPI all cars I buy for obvious reasons but I still want the logbook

[Edu-IT]

You dont get details on the current owner with a HPI so that wont show they are the current owner.

No, but you get to know who else has an interest in the vehicle. Using all the documentation available to you allows you to make an informed decision about whether or not to purchase the car.

[plexer]

You don't get details on current owner my bad but you do get number of previous owners so if that doesn't match with a dodgy V5 that's a good clue too.

 

Ben

[rad]

I was looking for my current car and found one at an appointment only place. Took FiL along as I wasn't sure about the place. Anyway put deposit down and then in the week before buying did an HPi one night to find the mileage had been rolled back. Haggled for my deposit and left him to it. Bought from a dealer with a Forecourt and got a better car.

[rich_tech]

Bought a vectra about a month ago and had a new Red V5C sent to me, wondered why it was red and not blue, now I know